Spain has long had a reputation for being the country Brits and other northern Europeans flock to for a sun-kissed retirement. But what visa will you need to make Spain home? We delve into the practical details.
The no visa needed route:
If you are not from a country in the EU, then you will be subject to the 90 day rule. Non-EU citizens are only able to stay within the Schengen Area for 90 days out of every rolling 180. So, if you are planning on only semi-retiring to Spain, then you might not need a visa at all. For example, you might just be hoping for an escape from the bite of cold British winters along the Costa Blanca.
Don’t get caught out – the 90-day rule counts for all countries within the Schengen Area. So, if you toured Paris for 10 days before venturing to your Spanish home, you’d have 80 days left to spend.
Tip: If you have European ancestry, such as an Irish grandparent, you may want to see if you can get a passport. This will make staying in Spain for longer, easier.
Unlock retirement to Spain…
The digital nomad: mix work & exploring Spain
If you’d like to continue earning money and can perform your role remotely, you may want to look into the digital nomad visa. This allows you to work remotely for a foreign-based company (or for clients based abroad if you are self-employed) from a chic café in Barcelona, a yacht off Ibiza or a cottage in the Andalusian hills. To qualify, you will need to earn 200% of Spain’s monthly minimum wage. At present, this is around €28,000 per year. The visa allows you to stay in the country for up to twelve months and can be renewed. You can also bring a spouse or dependent, so long as you can financially support them.
The most popular choice for retirees: Non-lucrative visa (NLV)
This is the visa for those that want to move to Spain full time and not work. To qualify, you’ll need a passive income of around €27,000 (rising each year in line with Spain’s minimum wage). You’ll need another €7,000 for each family member that joins you. Passive income can come from a pension, rental income or investments. It does not allow you to work in Spain.
The visa lasts just one year but can be easily renewed, so long as you still meet the qualifications. After five years, you can apply for permanent residency.
As well as individual financial requirements, Spanish visas require you to have:
- Passport/birth certificate
- Medical certificate
- Health coverage in Spain
- Proof of funds
- A clean criminal record
One visa that was previously popular was the Spain golden visa, a residency-by-investment scheme. By investing in property of €500,000, you could stay in Spain for longer than 90 days. However, this has since been abolished by the Spanish government.
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